Quakerism, The Religion of Peace and Progress

Who are the Quakers?

Quakers, more formally known as the Religious Society of Friends are a Religious group whose roots go back to Anabaptist Christianity similar to that of the Amish and Mennonite Traditions. The Quakers were started by George Fox in 1600s England. Fox was the son of a very puritanical family in Drayton-in-the-clay in the East Midlands. Fox like many Christians of his time was raised on the values of turning the other cheek, pacifism, doing onto others as you would want done to you, loving thy neighbour, etc. But in the days of George Fox, the English Civil War broke out, a horrendous war that drew a line between Catholics and Protestants. Fox was disgusted at the hypocrisy of both sides of the war. On one hand claiming to be peace loving but on the other hand having no issue taking the life of another because of an argument over scripture among other things.

Fox was a dissenter, he refused to fight and because he refused to fight or at least pick a side, he was ruled a Traitor by both ends and was Exiled to Ireland for Treason. During the court hearing that ruled him a traitor, The judge, Justice Bennet of Derby called followers of Fox "Quakers" because Quakers "bid them tremble at the word of God". So the term "Quaker" started as a Pejorative and was eventually used as short hand for members of the Religious Society of Friends and followers of Fox.

What do Quakers believe?

Quakers are a very eclectic bunch and opinions on Religious questions like; Is there an afterlife? What does hell look like? What is and isn't a sin varies quite a bit. In fact most Quakers take opinion from other religions and are free, if not encouraged to read elsewhere for answers or opinions to those questions. However, all Quakers are united in the belief of the Inner light, sometimes called the Inner flame. The Inner Flame is the light of god that binds all gods peoples and all gods creations together and with that, Quakers are bound to treat all gods creations like they are looking into the eyes of god himself. Which translates into Pacifism, Respect and standing up for the oppressed.

Quakers also put a great deal of emphasis on the need for Community and supporting thy neighbour in any way that they need. Quakers will often go into jobs that are supporting roles to the community like Paramedics, doctors, solicitors, social workers, carers, bakers, teachers, etc. In fact, During both World war 1 and World War 2 the Quakers were instrumental in aiding wounded civilians and soldiers in the whole of Europe through the Friends Ambulance Unit (see below).

Where do Quakers stand on Social Issues?

Quakers are Socially Progressive on almost all fronts, all going back to the belief in the inner flame we all carry within us. Quakers are Pro-choice for the most part, having an abortion isn't seen as a bad thing or a good thing, its a choice that someone made, and questioning the actions of someone else for the protection of themselves and sometimes the would-be child is looked down on more than the act itself. Some Quakers still uphold the right to be pro-life for themselves but wouldn't subject other people to their own standards set by themselves for themselves.

Quakers are Pro-LGBTQIA+ Rights, have been for quite a while, some documentation going back as far as the 1800s suggests that the Quakers have had a positive and Progressive view of Homosexuality and Gender non-conformity for quite a while. One of the most documented examples of Gender non-conformity came from a Quaker preacher in 1700s Rhode Island known as the Public Universal Friend (see below). They went by They/them pronouns, dressed ambiguously and was generally well accepted by the wider Quaker Community in Rhode Island at the time.

Quakers don't really set rules for what you can't do like what you find in most faiths. Quakers don't condemn the actions or beliefs of others as evil and use that as some kind of leverage into getting them to change. Someone's state of being like their Gender, sex, sexual orientation, etc isn't something that can be changed therefore regardless of whether you "get it" or "like it", the person whom you are talking to is still a person and must be treated as such, if they are happy then that is really all that matters in the minds of Quakers.

Quakers routinely show that being religious and progressive aren't mutually exclusive, nor should they be. Religions are made up of people and people change all the time, so it's only right that Religions change to fit the people and societies they function inside of. I'll link some pages that you'll find some further information on:

1. Quakers in Britain

2. Friends General Conference (USA)

P.S There's a lot about the Quakers that I didn't get around to, but I am planning on making this a series of stories, talking about everything Quaker-related like How Quakers do weddings, Quaker communities, Quaker businesses, etc. So if you like that kinda thing, you know what do do :)